Author Archive: amEtUc

It is an astonishing yet appreciable gift of nature that often a dog becomes a best friend of a person so much so that a heart is saved from the devastation of ruthless life. Dogs have been favorite pets for ages now and still continue to be hot favorites. The Labradoodle is a wildly popular crossbreed of the very smart and hard-working Labrador Retriever and sophisticated, beautiful Poodle. This intelligent and very social breed was developed by the Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia. It is a very popular guide dog with an impressive intelligence and tenacity. The Labradoodle can be seen today all around the world as an allergy free, low shedding family companion, agility dog, assistance dog to the physically challenged and a seizure alert dog.

The Labradoodle comes in variety of colors and sizes. It generally comes in three sizes, the standard size, the medium size and the miniature size.

The standard Labradoodle has a height of around 22 to 24 inches for a male and 21 to 23 inches for a female. They weigh between 50lbs. and 65lbs. The medium Labradoodle has an average height of 18 to 20 inches for a male and 17 to 19 inches for females. This size weighs under 45 lbs. The miniature Labradoodle is between 14 to 16 inches and weighs between 15lbs. and 25lbs.

Here is the breed standard for the Labradoodle: The length of the body from sternum to point of buttock should appear square and compact. There should be a good tuck up and loins should be strong and muscular. Shoulders blades and upper arms should be of same length. Elbows are set close to the body and forelegs are straight from viewed from the front. Stifles should be moderately turned to propel forward movement. The hindquarters should be well muscled for power in movement. Feet are medium size, round having elastic and thick pads. The tail should follow the topline in repose. The head should be moderately broad and eyebrows well defined. The foreface should appear shorter than skull. The head is clean-cut and free from fleshy cheeks. Ears are large and slightly rounded. Upper teeth jaw should overlap the bottom teeth. In miniatures, crowding teeth is a fault.

Labradoodle are playful and very friendly with children. They are high-energy dogs and require regular exercise. However they may be over-exuberant and knock down young children and seniors unintentionally while playing. Regular physical and mental stimulation is a must for the well-being of the breed, without which they may become destructive and difficult to handle.

The Labradoodle comes in variety of colors. They can be cream, silver, caramel, apricot, gold, chocolate, black or chalky white. They can also be “parti” i.e. white with some other color such as brindles, phantom, patched or sable colors. They have single coats with hair ranging from straight to loose curls. The coat can be either a silky coat or a dense coat similar to that of a lamb or a Fleece coat which ranges from straight to wavy. The coat is easy to manage and very low shedding. The breed in general has a graceful and athletic appearance with a compact body.

Although the Labradoodle is not a recognized breed of dog, The International Australian Labradoodle Association and the Australian Labradoodle Association of America are working to create a breed standard. It is very important to find responsible breeders to get good Labradoodle puppies as pets.

You might think that it is impossible to find out the differences between Goldendoodles and Labradoodles at first look. Even though they have similar temperament and physical attributes, there are differences if you look closely. The attributes mentioned below are just generalized traits and can vary from individual doodle to doodle.

Personality Differences. Both Labradoodles and Goldendoodles make great family dogs. However, if you spend some quality time with these two dog breeds, you will quickly observe that a Goldendoodle will not hesitate to come up to a stranger and say hello. They are not wary of outsiders and have no concerns about personal interaction. If left unrestrained, they will easily jump on the newcomers in your home, which is not always welcome.

On the other hand, Labradoodles are little more aloof around new people and new terrain. They usually stand back and observe until they fully accustomed to the new situation. When a guest visits your home for the first time, you can expect a Labradoodle to stand on the opposite side of the room and carefully observe the new inmate for several minutes before going into their personal capacity to say hello. It is just not in their nature to jump on new members who comes into your home.

Energy Level. Goldendoodles usually have more energy and are more alive compared to Labradoodles. They are passionate about life and are quite fidgety. On the other hand, Labradoodles are less fidgety and carry a quieter and more loyal personality. This is not to say Labradoodles are dormant dogs, which will happily lay around the house all day like a St. Bernard or Great Dane, they are just less energetic compared to Goldendoodles. Both these dogs require constant exercise.

Physical Differences. Both these breeds are almost identical in size, with Labradoodles is slightly larger on average. Another noticeable difference is the minor disparity in their coats. Labradoodle coats tend to be a little more agile and short, while Goldendoodles have more long and coiled coats. Most of the variation in coats between the individual Goldendoodles and Labradoodles is mainly of generational differences. First generation doodles have curved coats than second generations.

Temperament. Both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles have unusually calm manner and this is why both these breeds make great family dogs. Between them, Labradoodles are usually more protective. While most people see this as a positive aspect of their lives, others might concern with their protective nature crossing the line into aggression. However, this is not a valid concern since Labradoodles never considered as an aggressive breed. In addition, people having Labradoodles never reported any violent behaviour from their dog.

Even though both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles would make for a poor guard dogs due to their friendly nature, they do make excellent watch dogs. You can definitely rely on both these breeds to bark at outsiders as they near the house in a clear loud and aggressive manner; just do not expect them to do anything but kiss the person once they are inside the house.

The Labradoodle is a dog that’s been crossbred from a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. As a product of two highly energetic dogs, the Labradoodle is expected to display a mixture of its parents characteristics, though this may not necessarily be a 50/50 split.

The word “Labradoodle” was first introduced in the 1955 book by Sir Donald Campbell, entitled Into The Water Barrier. It was the term used to describe his dog, which is a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle. Yet, the same term did not become widely in use until the year 1988. And that’s when Wally Conron, an Australian breeder, crossed a Standard Poodle and a Labrador Retriever. His idea was to produce a guide dog for blind people, but which won’t also trigger an allergy to those that are sensitive to fur and dander.

From then on, the Labradoodles gain popularity not only among the blind and the hypersensitive but as well as in the different establishments and households due to their intelligence and fun-loving characteristic. Coupled with their charming appearance, the Labradoodles can now be seen serving as family pets, alert dogs, guide dogs and assistance dogs.

Physical Attributes. Like the Poodle, the Labradoodle generally comes in three sizes: miniature, medium and standard. As with most hybrid dogs, the Labradoodle’s physcial attributes may vary extensively. Its coloring may range from cream, gold, red, chocolate, brindle, black, cafe, silver, chalk and apricot. Its coat type can either be wavy, wooly, wiry, curly and fleece-like. They do shed, though not as much of the Labrador Retriever and with lesser odor as well. Though there’s no such thing as hypoallergenic dogs, the Labradoodle seems to be the nearest thing to it.

Care. Bathing them often tends to strip their natural oil, which serves as a coat protection. However, a professional bath and blow up every month is highly recommended. As with most floppy-eared dogs, the Labradoodles are likely to suffer from ear infections. Hence, it’s mandatory to regularly clean their ears with cotton swabs. They also tend to develop eye problems, but a regular check-up easily alleviates this common health issue. If you’re getting a Labradoodle, it’s important to know the history of its parents for you to have a strong background of any prevalent health problems.

Personal Traits. Since both of its parents are known for their friendly nature, the Labradoodle acquires the same trait along with an exceptional level of intelligence. This makes them highly trainable, and will prove to be ideal pets when trained as early as possible. They can be very smart and can be very protective of their master, thus making them a suitable companion for the blind. Their sociable nature and non-aggressive trait makes them safe to play among children. Being highly-spirited, the Labradoodles love to play a lot and so a 30-minute walk should be enough to keep them exercised. Though, they never become bored when they miss an occasional one. Being with someone is more important to them, as leaving them alone for a long time will make them restless.

The Labradoodle’s popularity has been skyrocketing in recent years because it is an intelligent and friendly dog. Originally intended to be a hypoallergenic guide dog, the first crosses of the Standard Poodles and the Labrador Retrievers were done by the Royal Guide Dogs Associations of Australia. The result was a clever, pleasant and friendly dog that had not only guide qualities but a low-shedding coat too. Although the hybrid has not yet achieved consistency in terms of temperament and coat, the puppies are wildly popular because they are so adorable. Here are five reasons to add a Labradoodle puppy to your family.

Very affectionate. The Labradoodles have proved to be versatile additions to the family. They are happiest when around people they love, and will placate the family with affection and devotion. Possessing the gentle and endearing disposition of the Retriever and the Poodle’s intelligence as well as an allergy-friendly coat, they are a joy. They are also very friendly with the children, are eager to please and somehow seem to blend seamlessly into the family life.

Suitable for people with allergies. There are many people who cannot own pets because they suffer from pet allergies. If you are such a person, a Labradoodle puppy may just be what you need. It is not the fur from pets that cause allergic reactions in people but rather the dander that attaches itself to the fur. The Labradoodle has a low shedding coat which is allergy friendly because of the low percentage of dander on its fur compared to other breeds. While not all allergy-prone people will tolerate her, most of them can live comfortably together.

Friendly with the other pets. Their friendliness is not limited to people only, these puppies easily make friends with the other animals too. This wonderful disposition makes it possible for one to have many pets in the same house without making any special adjustments. From the moment they are brought in, they start to acclimatize to their new environment almost immediately and soon they join their new company.

They are unique. You will quickly find that wherever you go, your Labrador puppy will always draw a lot of interest from people. This is because they are a fairly new breed and not many people have come across one. People will always be curious and interested because the puppies have a unique look and are affectionate. It seems that the Labradoodle is on a one-puppy mission to spread cheer and make the world a happier place.

Easy to train. Labradoodles are good with children and are easy to train. This is because they are calm and intelligent, yet obedient and eager to please. As with other dogs, they love to be engaged and to receive some attention. Bored Labradoodles can be boisterous if only to prompt you to some game or activity so as to kill the boredom. It is best to get a dog trainer for best results since the puppies learn very fast. They observe how you answer the door, bring food and where you let them sleep. The puppy is actually giving you a leadership grade from the word go, so make sure you set some rules at the onset and s/he’ll quickly adapt to them.

If you want to get yourself one of these puppies, contact a reputable breeder to confirm their availability. There is usually a waiting list for them, but they are worth the wait.